Griffin continued feeding her with an almost surprising amount of care and focus. It was as though he were ensuring she ate enough to regain her strength. It wasn’t long before another thought crossed her mind, and she voiced it.
“Isn’t there a way to shut down the Oracle’s business? You’re a Cardinal Alpha. Surely, you have the authority to do something about it, don’t you?”
Griffin paused for a moment, setting the bread down on the plate before answering. “Yes, I do have the authority,” he admitted. “But it’s not that simple. The Oracle has spent years building a network so intricate, even we have to tread carefully around her.”
“Why? What are you afraid of?” Violet asked, her curiosity piqued.
Griffin’s expression darkened slightly, his voice cautious as he replied, “Because she has each and every one of our secrets. Secrets none of us want to see the light of day.”
Violet stared at Griffin, a lot of thoughts running through her mind. The Oracle’s leverage over the alphas, the supposed rulers of their world, was both intriguing and unsettling.
She had always considered the Oracle a gossipmonger, but now, the realization that this mysterious figure held secrets powerful enough to keep even the strongest alphas in line made her seem more dangerous than Violet had ever imagined.
What kind of secrets were Griffin, Alaric, Roman, and Asher hiding? And if she happened to uncover them, what kind of damage could she cause by letting them out?
Her lips pressed into a tight line as she mulled over the possibilities, her gaze drifting back to Griffin, who was now watching her with a knowing look.
“Whatever you’re thinking, trust me, it’s a bad idea,” Griffin said, holding back the next piece of bread he was about to feed her.
Violet raised a brow, leaning back against the pillows. “What do you think I’m thinking?”
Griffin tilted his head slightly, studying her. “You’re a proud, strong woman, which means your probably scheming a way to contact the Oracle, dig up Asher’s secrets, and plot your revenge.”
She blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his accurate assumption. “Adele told you?”
Griffin chuckled, shaking his head. “Adele didn’t need to tell me anything. This is my suite. I heard everything from the other room.”
“Oh,” Violet muttered, the realization dawning on her. She felt a slight flush creep up her cheeks at the thought of him overhearing everything. She tried to hide it by looking away, but Griffin’s amused expression told her he’d noticed.
Griffin broke a piece of bread and brought it to her lips. “Eat,” he said simply, his tone firm yet oddly gentle.
Violet complied, taking the last bite, and as Griffin lifted the remaining bowl of soup to her, she took it and drank it all in silence. The warmth of the soup spread through her, but it didn’t soothe the questions and plans in her mind.
Griffin had missed one crucial fact in his analysis: what made him think Asher was the only one she wanted revenge against?
The memory of how he had manhandled her on her first day was still fresh in her mind. Although his attitude toward her had turned for the good since then, she hadn’t forgotten, and she certainly hadn’t forgiven. One way or another, he would pay for that.
Finished with her meal, Violet reached for the plates, intending to clear them herself, but Griffin intercepted her with ease.
“Let me handle that,” he said, already removing the bed table and gathering the empty dishes.
As he moved toward the desk to set everything down, Violet said. “If I asked you to have revenge against Asher, would you do it for me?”
Griffin froze mid-step, clearly caught off guard by the question. After a moment, he continued to set the plate aside, but the air between them had shifted. Returning to her bedside, he sat down, his expression serious as he looked at her.
“I could punch him,” Griffin began, his voice even. “Beat him up mercilessly. And while it might satisfy you for a moment, trust me when I say physical pain doesn’t bother Asher. But there’s something that would.”
Intrigued, Violet tilted her head slightly. “What is it?” she asked cautiously.
“You,” Griffin replied without hesitation.
Violet stared at him, her brows furrowing in disbelief. “Are you kidding me right now?”
But Griffin’s gaze didn’t waver as he said. “Asher has developed an unhealthy obsession with you, just like he did with Lucille-“
“Who’s Lucille?” Violet interrupted, her curiosity piqued by the name.
Griffin ignored her question, continuing as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’m forbidden to tell you everything, but trust me on this: something significant is going to happen soon at Lunaris. When it does, you’ll have a choice to make. Choose my house.”
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to decipher his meaning. “And why would I do that?”
Griffin leaned in slightly and said in a low tone. “Because nothing would piss Asher off more than losing you from his grip. If you’re under my house, his influence over you will diminish greatly, and I’ll protect you from him. That’s how you get your revenge, Violet. That’s how you win.” He frowned as he added, “At least for the moment.”
Violet didn’t reply immediately, thinking about his words which were wrapped in layers of mystery and suspicion. Griffin called the name Lucille. And if she remembered correctly, Alaric had said it was happening again.
Violet was smart and was able to piece the puzzle together. Lucille had to be the one before her. The ‘first’ that happened. And now, she was the ‘second.’ It was unsettling, to say the least.
“Until then,” Violet said curtly, cutting off the trail of her own thoughts.
Griffin opened his mouth to protest, clearly dissatisfied with her vague response. But he stopped himself, catching the warning signs in her tone. He couldn’t push her too far or risk making her wary of him.
The silence between them was heavy. However, her eyes lingered on Griffin, studying him. Objectively, he was strikingly handsome. Broad shoulders, a strong jawline, and a powerful frame that practically screamed dominance-he was every inch the dream man for most women.
“You’re not as dumb as people think you are,” she remarked with a neutral tone.
Griffin raised an eyebrow. “I’m not as smart as Asher or Alaric either, nor as cunning as Roman.”
Violet’s lips curled into a wry smile. “Asher is a psychopath, Alaric is an asshole, and Roman is batshit crazy.”
“And what am I?” he asked, his tone light but his eyes showing forth a glimmer of hope.
“You’re strong.”
His eyes widened slightly, hope flickering to life in his expression, only to falter when Violet added, “And a big bully.”
Griffin chuckled, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. “Fair enough.”
She tilted her head, a faint smirk playing on her lips. “But you’re a big bully with a heart. I can’t say the same for the others.”
Griffin’s gaze softened, an inexplicable look crossing his face. “You’re a very complicated woman to figure out.”
“Isn’t that the exciting part?” Violet countered. “Don’t all men love a good challenge?”
“Oh, we do,” Griffin replied, his voice carrying a tone that suggested he was even more intrigued by her now than before.
Violet felt heat rush to her cheeks, and it didn’t help that memories of the earlier incident surfaced unbidden right at that moment.
She cleared her throat awkwardly and said, “About earlier… I’m really sorry about… you know, kissing you.”
“Don’t be,” Griffin said, “Not when I enjoyed the kiss.”
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